Online learning has transformed the education sector and shaped how academic curricula are delivered. Thanks to distance learning, students from remote areas can now access quality education from top universities without leaving their homes’ comfort.
While the benefits of digital instruction abound, the modality comes with a serious challenge. Staying focused while studying from home is tricky, as opportunities to be distracted are plenty. Some people work part-time while raising children, while others have pets or live with family members.
Technology, the main medium through which online learning is delivered, can also be distracting if not properly used. Here are some tips for successfully navigating online classes by avoiding distractions.
What Qualifies as a Distraction?
When it comes to online learning, a distraction implies anything or a person that takes your concentration away from an important task. The task may include working on an assignment or preparing for an important test. It could also entail listening to audio recordings from a lecture.
Remember, a distraction is not just something that pulls you away from the task. It could entail anything that draws your attention away from work, even momentarily. For example, even listening to music when working on a project can be a distraction if it diminishes your productivity.
According to experts, the human brain is incapable of multitasking. Therefore, those who try to perform multiple activities simultaneously only end up switching rapidly between tasks. Furthermore, it leads to the loss of valuable minutes as the brain tries to reorient from one thing to another. If you need help with assignments, consider asking for support from a professional essay writer.
Tips for Avoiding Distraction
Remaining productive and reducing distractions during online studies are critical for academic success. As a student, you must figure out strategies to optimize your time management and avoid wasting valuable minutes. Here are some tips on how to successfully avoid getting distracted.
Understand Your Abilities and Shortcomings
One of the most important things to consider when you want to avoid distractions during online classes is understanding the extent of your limitations. In addition, understand that distractions differ from one individual student to the next. The understanding here is that an activity that may help one tune out distractions may be a distraction to someone else.
For instance, some people find music calming and valuable for focusing when studying. However, the same music may be a distraction to someone else. It is easy for people to get drawn into the words of a song and the intriguing melodies in tune.
In other words, the very first step in eliminating distractions is identifying them. First, review your time use, noting down those areas that waste your time. For example, maybe you check your phone several times for updates while studying. Or you visit specific pages unrelated to your studies.
Create and Follow a Routine
Synchronizing yourself offers you some sense of structure and flow. One of the most common challenges online college students face relates to the asynchronous learning environment. In other words, classes and sessions don’t follow specific routines. Of course, there will be defined deadlines and dates for tests and assignments. However, the student is given room to decide when to attend virtual classes and review class notes.
While asynchronous learning benefits online students when they have other responsibilities, it can also be a problem for the less disciplined. First, you need to create and synchronize a schedule that guarantees productivity each day.
Failing to prioritize academic tasks and trying to squeeze study sessions whenever you can leave you missing important deadlines. Instead, plan your schedule well, considering the academic period’s workload. When you follow a routine, you get more work done.
Choose a Good Study Location
The location you choose for your academic pursuits will determine your ability to focus. The great thing about online education is the classroom can be anywhere as long as there is an internet connection and a computer. It is good because it offers flexibility and convenience.
However, the flexibility also opens doors for several risks of distraction. When studying in an uncontrolled and unsupervised environment, there will be interruptions from time to time. Choose a study space dedicated to your academic activities to minimize disruptions. Keep the space tidy and clutter-free.
If you are taking online classes, you need to avoid distractions and enhance your time-management skills. For example, know when to turn off your electronics and schedule time for breaks. Also, avoid multitasking as it leads to time-wasting and loss of concentration.
